Improvement in fire-proof safes



2 Sheets Shee t L WILLIAM H. SHHORT.

Patented J une 20,1871.

AM PIMW-IIIHGERAI'H/t ca. M x Mum/t1: Mom's) UNITED STATES PATENTQFFICE.

WILLIAM HAMELTON SHORT. OF MONTREAL, CANADA.

IMPROVEMENT lN FIRE-PROOF SAFES.

Specificationforming part of Letters Patent No. 116,227, dated June 20,1871; antedated June 8, 1871.

reference being had to the annexed drawing, 7

where- Figure I represents a section of the safe. Fig. II represents asection of the safe. Fig. 111 represents an elevation of the safe. Fig.IV represents a section on line AB, Fig. III.

This invention relates to that class of fireproof safes which isprovided with a space for water between the inner and outer casings; andconsists in providing certain means for operating the valve at any timewhen it is de-' sired to change the supply of water within the safe, aswill be fully described hereinafter.

In the drawing similar letters of reference indicate like parts.

Letter a is the outer casing of the safe, made of boiler-plate iron, inany suitable form required, or may have a roof-shaped or dome top, asshown in the drawing, and perfectly watertight. I) is a similar innercasing, having a water-space, c, of any requisite width between the two.This space, at the top, is enlarged to provide for a supply-valve, d, ofany ordinary and suitable construction, but so arranged that its actionwill be regulated by a float, e, and lever f, by means of which thewater in the space Q will be maintained at any desired height, thesupply water being conveyed to the valve, by the pipe g, from anysuitable head of water sufficient to cause the level of the supplywithin the space 0 at all times to be maintained. To the lever f a smallrod, h, is attached, provided with any suitable guides, and passingthrough the top of the inner casing 12. At this point an ordinarystuffing-box, h, is provided, to prevent any leakage. Within the space0, and in any required position, or as shown in the drawing, theoverflow and steam pipe 6 is placed-for the purpose of carrying oft anyextra amount of water and the steam which would be generated in case offire. The outer end of this pipe may be either open to the atmosphere orconducted down to the sewer of the building in which it is placed, butalways so situated that its contents will flow out freely. The inner andouter casings a, and b are attached together by any desired number ofsuitable stays,- k, the upper ones It being constructed not only for thepurpose of attaching the two tops together, but also to cause the top ofthe inner case to assist in resisting any pressure acting on the top ofthe outer one caused by the fall of the building in which it is placed.These may consist of perforated boiler-plate, as shown in Fig. II, or,if preferred, of stout bar-iron. The door of the safe is constructed ofboiler-plate iron, and may have a cast-iron frame; but it is providedwith a similar water-space to that described for the casings above. Inthe space in which the door sits, and at theside of it, a pipe, I, isplaced, passing through the upper and lower edges of the door-way, andopen at top and bottom to the space 0. At these points suitablestuffingboxes I are provided to prevent leakage, and suitable hand-holesbeing formed in the inner casing, by which the stuffing boxes may bepacked or the pipe I may be screwed into its place. The pipe Zforms thehinge on which the door turns, and is provided with any suitable openingm, connecting with the waterspace in the door. The edge of the door atthe side attached to the pipe lis circular in form, and the edge of thedoor-wayn is of the same configuration. The other three edges of thedoor may be made as found most desirable, or as shown in the drawing.

The safe as above described will be situated on any solid and levelfoundation of stone or brick, so that in case of fire it will retain itsposition.

It will act in the following manner: The water, entering by the pipe g,the valve 01 being so arranged by the action of the lever f and float eas to be open at all times when the level of the water falls below thatfor which it was constructed, therefore fills the space 0, as indicatedin the drawing, and also, by the pipe l, into the door. By the pipe c'any surplus amount of water can escape, and in case of fire the steamalso, it being evident that, as the water is evaporated and passes oflin steam through the pipe I", a fresh supply will flow in through thepipe 9, as above described. It at any time it is desired to run freshWater into the space 0 on account of that already in it having beenthere some time, this may be done by opening the valve d by means of therod h.

I do not claim a fire-proof safe constructed with water space, inductionand ednction pipes, and valve; but

Having thus fully described my invention,

what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

The rod h, in combination with the arm j and stuffing-box h, asdescribed, for the purpose set forth.

Montreal, October 3, 1870.

WILLIAM HAMELTON SHORT.

Witnesses CHARLES LEGGE, CHARLES G. O. SIMPSON.

